Lucas Glover drew attention on Sunday at the 3M Open in Minnesota when he removed his shoes on the 10th hole before retrieving his golf ball from the cup. The incident occurred shortly after Glover made a 10-foot putt for birdie.
Initial reports and online speculation suggested Glover's action was a protest against the Aimpoint putting technique, a method that involves using one's feet to gauge the slope of a green. However, the PGA Tour issued a statement indicating that Glover had been asked to be mindful of his spike marks on the green and was attempting to be lighthearted.
Glover himself addressed the rumors on social media and in comments to the Golf Channel, refuting the Aimpoint protest narrative. "No, not even close. Nothing to do with Aimpoint actually," Glover wrote on social media. "Complaints behind me about spike marks. I wear metal. Someone in the group ahead of us was too. Singled me out. Just goofing off."
He further elaborated to the Golf Channel, stating, "There were some complaints about my metal spikes marking up the greens from some guys behind me. Rules official notified me. Was just being silly, there’s no way to not mark up soft, damp bent greens. Oh, and we can tap down spike marks now."
Glover finished the 3M Open, held at TPC Twin Cities, outside the top 50. He recorded an opening-round 65, followed by scores of 70, 72, and 72. The golfer also had a triple bogey on the 11th hole during the final round.